תהלים, פרק ק״ט, פסוק ח׳

A severe curse is directed at an individual, expressing a deep desire for his swift downfall and the complete loss of all his achievements [מלבי״ם]. The initial hope is for his life to be cut short, bringing about an early death [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This premature end is understood as a direct punishment from God for the person's sins [מאירי]. This sudden ruin is compared to the fate of Haman, whose life was abruptly ended just days after he issued his evil decree [אלשיך].

Beyond the loss of life, the curse focuses on everything the individual will be stripped of. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to his status, greatness, and official role. The wish is for another person to step in and seize his position of power [רש״י, אלשיך, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This loss of status can even occur while he is still alive, with someone else being appointed in his place. This mirrors the story of Haman, whose royal ring was removed and transferred to Mordecai [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].

Other perspectives suggest the loss is material, referring to the individual's wealth and properties [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Such wealth is viewed not as something a person truly owns, but rather as something temporarily entrusted to him; he acts merely as a clerk appointed to guard the property for a limited time [מאירי]. Taking a more personal and existential approach, some suggest the loss refers to the man's wife, who will be taken by another [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. Finally, the loss can be understood as referring to the person's very soul. In this view, the soul itself is treated as a deposit, and the ultimate curse is that his life will be forcefully taken and ended by the hands of another person [אבן עזרא].